With Desso following the cradle-to-cradle concept with its products, it claims its products can last up to 400 years with all the taking back and reassembling.

Desso is the only carpet manufacturer with cradle-to-cradle (C2C) certification, with its products certified by the EPEA (Environmental Protection and Encouragement Agency).

Andrew Sibley, sales and marketing director – emerging markets, Desso, said the company knows exactly what the sources of its products are, which allows them to take them back to its headquarters and re-assemble them. “Our products can actually last 400 years with all the taking back,” he said.

Advertisement

“Many companies like to recycle products, but many products contain PVC, which Desso does not recycle, because it’s like recycling poison,” added Sibley.

Julian Richardson, cradle-to-cradle advisor, Desso said PVC is known to release dioxins which arelate to obesity and carcinogens.

“The truth of the matter is, the concepts of recycling and cradle-to-cradle cannot be further apart. We dream the ideal and work back to achieve the ideal. Cradle-to-cradle products are not harmful for the environment or for humans,” said Richardson.

Richardson added that once a carpet tile is taken back, users don’t get a recycled tile out of it – they get a new tile. “In cradle-to-cradle, there’s no such thing as recycled tiles, only natural ingredients,” he said.

Cradle-to-cradle is not recycling, according to Richardson. “Cradle-to-cradle is the only badge about which you can put your hand on your heart and say you are not harming the environment,” he added.

Cradle-to-cradle does not make Desso’s products any more expensive, and the firm also takes back competitors’ products with the condition they do not have PVC in them.